Final at Imperial College – 3rd April 2019
Ten teams gathered from all parts of the country, and arrived at Imperial College for the final of this increasingly popular competition. The early part of the day was taken up with an informative talk from Professor Jonathan Mestel who held all the players attention (and staff and helpers as well) with two apparently simple positions which showed a variety of threats and themes with under promotions and apparently senseless material sacrifices. Illustrating the need for thorough and methodical study of even the most innocuous and innocent looking position.
The reigning champions Judd School arrived with a strong team, determined to defend their title. The first round was harder than in previous years, and only Judd scored full marks, establishing a lead which they did not relinquish throughout the event. Their final score of 73 out of a possible 75 was an excellent return for their hard work throughout the event, and they ran out easy winners. The fight for second place was exciting, with Sevenoaks entering the final round narrowly ahead of Chepstow, who produced an impressive set of solutions to the mixed round and made the Silver medals their own. The results were as follows —
1st – The Judd School 73/ 75
2nd – Chepstow 63
3rd – Sevenoaks 59
4th – St Pauls 53; 5th – Millfield 50.5; 6th – The Skinners School 40; 7th – Wilsons School 27.5; 8th – Desborough College 24.5; 9th – Heathside 22.5; 10th – Yarm School 20
The medals and trophy were presented by Professor Mestel, who is one a small band of double GMs (problem solving and over the board), and he commented on the hard work of all the solvers.
The event problems were set by Brian Stephenson, and the competition controlled by Nigel Dennis (both from the British Chess Problem Society) and our thanks are, as usual, extended to them …
— Phill Beckett
Download PDFs of the problems and their solutions here —
Intro_Problems | Intro_Solutions | Round_1_Problems | Round_1_Solutions
Round_2_Problems | Round_2_Solutions | Round_3_Problems | Round_3_Solutions
Round_4_Problems | Round_4_Solutions | Round_5_Problems | Round_5_Solutions
This unique competition is mainly conducted at school’s own premises. The idea is find the key moves which deliver mate in the stated number of moves. There are two preliminary rounds, and any team that scores full marks in both rounds will be offered a place at the final, to be held in conjunction with the Team Chess Challenge. We do hope that you will have a go!
Problem Sheet One – solutions [PDF] | Problem Sheet Two – solutions [PDF]
Last Chance Saloon
Last Chance Saloon – solutions
Winnerts (tied) – Magdalen College School; Yarm School – both on 10/12 and with a place in the final!
Leader Board after Round Two
11 – Heathside; The Judd School; Sevenoaks; Wilsons School; Desborough College; Chepstow School
10 – RGS High Wycombe; Millfield School; St Pauls School; Skinners School
9 – Yarm School; Bishop of Llandaff; Kirbie Kendall
Leader Board after Round One
5 – Heathside; Wilson’s School; Desborough College; The Judd School; Millfield; Bishop of Llandaff; St Paul’s; Skinners; Chepstow School; RGS High Wycombe; Sevenoaks
4 – Yarm School; Norwich High School for Girls
3 – Reigate GS; Moreton School
2 – Kings Grantham